Anti-biofouling seismic streamer

ABSTRACT

An anti-biofouling casing for a seismic streamer is described, the anti-biofouling casing comprising a polymer system comprising a hydrophobically-modified base polymer, the hydrophobically-modified base polymer comprising a base polymer having a backbone and a hydrophobically derivatized chain extender coupled to said backbone of said base polymer, wherein the the hydrophobically derivatized chain extender comprises a hydrophobic moiety. The anti-fouling casing comprises a hydrophobic surface to which a layer—such as a coating or a paint—of a material having low surface energy may be coupled to provide an anti-biofouling layer on the seismic streamer.

BACKGROUND

The field of the invention is the prevention of biofouling of marine equipment. More precisely, the invention relates to preventing bio fouling of equipment designed for analyzing subsurface formations in hydrocarbon exploration applications. In particular, methods and systems are provided for preventing bio fouling of marine seismic streamers, which are used in marine seismic surveys.

In a marine seismic survey, the equipment for which and arrangement of such equipment is depicted in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a survey vessel tows an array of seismic cables, frequently referred to as a “streamer,” along a predetermined course. As the vessel tows the array, a seismic source, such as an airgun or a vibroseis source, imparts an acoustic wave into the water. The acoustic wave travels through the water and is eventually reflected by various geological features. The reflections travel back up through the water to the streamers and these reflections are referred to herein as a seismic signal.

The streamers include sensors for detecting/determining properties of the reflections/seismic signals. These sensors may include acoustic sensors, or “hydrophones,” distribute along the length of the streamer. In a seismic survey, the acoustic receivers may be used to sense the magnitude of the passing wavefront of the reflections/seismic signals. The acoustic receivers then transmit data representing the detected magnitude of the passing wavefront back up the seismic cables to the survey vessel for collection. The streamer may comprise other types of sensors for sensing other properties of the seismic signals.

The survey system 100 may include an array 103 towed by a survey vessel 106 on board of which is a computing apparatus 109. The towed array 103 may comprise multiple marine seismic cables, or streamers, 112 (only one is shown in the figure) that may, for instance, each be of the order of multiple kilometers in length. Note that the number of streamers 112 in the towed array 103 is not material to the practice of the invention. Thus, alternative embodiments may employ different numbers of streamers 112.

A seismic source 115, typically an air gun or an array of air guns, is also shown being towed by the seismic survey vessel 106. Note that in alternative embodiments, the seismic source 115 may not be towed by the survey vessel 106. Instead, the seismic source 115 may be towed by a second vessel (not shown), suspended from a buoy (also not shown), or deployed in some other fashion known to the art. The known seismic sources include impulse sources, such as explosives and air guns, and vibratory sources which emit waves with a more controllable amplitude and frequency spectrum.

At the front of each streamer 112 is a deflector 118 (only one indicated) and at the rear of every streamer 112 is a tail buoy 120 (only one indicated). The deflector 118 horizontally positions the front end 113 of the streamer 112 nearest the seismic survey vessel 106. The tail buoy 120 creates drag at the tail end 114 of the streamer 112 farthest from the seismic survey vessel 106. The tension created on the streamer 112 by the deflector 118 and the tail buoy 120 results in a roughly linear shape of the streamer 112, shown in FIG. 1B.

Located between the deflector 118 and the tail buoy 120 are a plurality of seismic cable positioning devices known as “birds” 122. The birds 122 may be located at regular intervals along the seismic cable, such as every 200 to 400 meters. The birds 122 are used to control the depth at which the streamers 112 are towed, typically of the order of a few meters.

Seismic surveys may be called “marine” surveys because they are conducted in marine environments. In the marine seismic survey, the streamers that are used comprise long cables that house various sensor networks and other devices useful in the acquisition of seismic data. Generally, the streamers comprise liquid-filled streamers where the liquid is selected to have advantageous properties for seismic signal acquisition. Often, the liquid filling the streamer comprises kerosene. However, a problem with kerosene filled streamers is that if the streamer is punctured the kerosene may leak out and pollute the marine environment. As a result, some streamers are fabricated with a gel filler, which may comprise a kerosene gel or the like, which addresses the problem of leaking. Liquid and gel filled streamers may be used to provide for good data acquisition from the marine environment surrounding the streamer and/or to provide that the streamer is flexible so it can be stored on a spool when not deployed from the seismic vessel.

Within the core of the streamer, transmission and power bundles are disposed continuously through a streamer section (a segmented portion./.section of a streamer cable). The transmission and power bundles are typically connected to electronics modules between the streamer sections through end-connectors. Also within a streamer section, there is a need to connect distributed sensors and (if present) sensor electronics by wires to transmit power and data to the electronics modules.

During seismic acquisition operations, networks of sensors (most typically hydrophones, geophones, or accelerometers) are deployed. The hydrophones are distributed along tubular cables to form linear acoustic antennas, commonly known as ‘seismic streamers.’ In a marine seismic survey, a network of streamers is towed behind a marine vessel to capture/receive seismic data. Seismic arrays used in seismic surveys can comprise of up to ten individual streamer cables, each of which may be up to twelve kilometers (12 km) in length.

Seismic exploration campaigns can be scheduled to last several months and often one vessel would spend a period of activity in one geographical location then move to a new location to begin a further period of seismic data acquisition. Given the length of the streamer network, returning the streamers in the network back onto the vessel—by reeling the streamers onto spindles or the like—is to be avoided, as best as possible, since the process is operationally difficult and time consuming. As a result, the streamer arrays often spend consecutive months, often for periods of 6-12 months, immersed in sea water. Moreover, the streamers are towed at a depth of approximately five meters (5 m) below the surface of the water and are towed at a speed that rarely exceeds five knots. Under these conditions, the seismic streamers are prone to fouling by marine organisms such as ‘slime’ and barnacles.

Fouling of seismic streamers can generate several problems:

1. The drag of seismic streamers is increased, which consequently results in increased fuel consumption for the vessel towing the streamers.

2. The induced increase in mass on the streamer can cause direct and indirect damage due to increased strain on stress members in the streamers.

3. Hydrodynamic flow noise is created by the fouling on the streamers that in severe cases may reduce the acoustic signal-noise performance of the acquisition system.

4. Personnel are put at risk as work boats need to be deployed in order to perform manual removal of the fouling organisms using scraping devices. The process is highly time consuming and results in economically costly lost-production time. Moreover due to the sharp nature of the hand-held devices used to physically remove fouling organisms, the process is often coupled with damage to the integrity of the seismic streamer tubing.

A typical seismic streamer used in a marine seismic survey comprises sensors, strength members and cabling house each disposed within a polyurethane casing. The casing for seismic streamers is and has been previously made from thermoplastic polyurethane (“TPU”). TPU is any of a class of polyurethane plastics with many useful properties, including elasticity, transparency and resistance to oil, grease and abrasion. All of these properties have been found useful for and a reason why TPU has been used in marine seismic streamers. TPU comprises thermoplastic elastomers consisting of linear segmented block copolymers composed of hard and soft segments. TPU is formed by the reaction of: (1) diisocyanates with short-chain diols (so-called chain extenders) and (2) diisocyanates with long-chain bifunctional diols (known as polyols). There is virtually an unlimited amount of possible combinations producible by varying the structure and/or molecular weight of the reaction compounds allowing for production of an enormous variety of different TPUs. The different TPU recipes have provided for tuning the polymer's structure to the desired final properties of the material for use in seismic streamers. For example TPU may be tuned to have a desired resistance to abrasion, opacity, attenuation/lack of attenuation of seismic signals and/or the like.

The cylindrical outer, TPU/polyurthane casing on the streamer is manufactured from extruded flexible polyurethane tubing (e.g. an elastollan grade such as supplied for example by BASF) that functions to protect the components from the marine environment. It is the outer surface of this casing/tubing that potentially provides a surface suitable for barnacle colonization. Although materials such as polyurethane are typically difficult to chemically or biologically adhere to, biofouling by barnacles and marine slime, in particular, is problematic. For purposes of this specification the terms outer casing, skin or the like may be used to refer to the polyurethane casing/tubing that is disposed around the streamer.

Antifouling paints have long been the most effective method to prevent macrofouling of rigid hulled marine vessels. Biocides or heavy metal compounds, such as TBTO (tributyltin oxide), are released (leached) from the coating and inhibit microorganism attachment. Typically these paints are composed of an acrylic polymer with tributyltin groups attached to the polymer backbone via an ester bond. The organotin moiety has biocidal properties and is acutely toxic to the attached organisms.

Unfortunately, the chemicals compounds that are effective in the paints for preventing biofouling are also toxic for non-targeted marine organisms. Also, the compounds are not biodegradable in water; thus they may accumulated in the marine and produce a serious environmental hazard. As a result, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) banned the application of TBT compounds in 2003, and required the entire removal of TBT coatings worldwide by 2008.

More recent attempts to produce antifouling paints for marine articles have focused on the use of ‘non-stick’ silicone, fluoro- or fluorosilicone based chemistries. Silicones have unique properties that make them useful as antifouling coatings. Silicone-based coatings are typically based on incorporation of polydimethylsiloxane (“PDMS”) into a coating that can be applied to the streamer. PDMS comprises methyl (—CH3) side chains which provides a low surface energy (20-24 mJ/m2) and a flexible, inorganic —Si—O backbone linkage that results in an extremely low elastic modulus (˜1 MPa). Applicants have found that both properties are important for the extreme low adhesion properties of silicone coatings, which provides for preventing/reducing bioflouling by marine organisms.

In practice, the streamer tubing material (thermoplastic polyurethane) has been found to be a difficult substrate on which to adhere a paint/coating or on which to apply a further layer of streamer skin having low adhesion properties. Experimental tests revealed that even with the use of a tie coat, the coatings failed (became unfixed or the connection with the streamer body degraded) under flexing of the streamer/tubing during the reeling process that is encountered during operational use and the coating subsequently delaminated from the streamer/tubing when immersed in water.

A recent method for improving adhesion of a silicone based coating to polyurethane is based on application of an intermediate layer (a tie-coat) to the outer section of a polyurethane streamer tubing followed by application of a silicone-elastomer layer to the tie-coat via a dip-coating and oven drying procedure. This process is complex, time consuming and expensive. Moreover, in field experiments trialing the coating applied to the seismic streamer in this fashion, although the silicone-outer layer was demonstrated to prevent barnacle-fouling in the short term, after a relatively short service delamination of the outer silicone elastomer coating was observed. The propensity of silicone coatings to delaminate is an intrinsic property of such silicon layers due to their intrinsically low resistance to abrasion, a common property of silicone-based materials. As a result, the delamination process produces an uneven outer layer on the streamer where there are pockets of streamer absent of the silicon elastomer layer. This unevenness and lack of silicon may in practice actually produce a service that is advantageous to/increases bio fouling of the streamer.

One approach for preventing biofouling is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2010/0020644, according to which a seismic streamer tubing is composed of a co-extruded inner and outer layer of thermoplastic polyurethane. Within the coextruded outer layer a biocide is incorporated, such as water-solubilised metal ions including copper or silver. However, although settling organisms may initially be killed by the biocidal action of the water-solubilised metal ions, this is only a temporary antifouling method at best. Once the initial loading of metal ions have leached into the water (due to the metal ions being sparingly water soluble) the antifouling capacity of the exterior coating is exhausted. Furthermore, although settled organisms may initially be killed, they may have adhered to the streamer surface prior to death and as such may themselves act as settlement and proliferation points for further bio-fouling of the streamer.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention provide methods for, among other things, providing a marine seismic streamer that has a hydrophobic casing to which an anti-fouling layer—such as a coating, paint, polymer layer—may be applied to preventing bio-fouling of the streamer by marine organisms. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, some embodiments of the present invention provide a marine seismic streamer to which products for lowering surface energy of the streamer can be effectively attached. In some embodiments, a streamer skin (or streamer tubing) is provided that can be effectively adhered to an anti-biofouling layer/coating that is configured resist adhesion of marine organisms, such as but not limited to marine slime and barnacles. In aspects of the present invention, heteroatoms, such as fluorine and silicon are incorporated within the seismic streamer tubing during the tubing manufacturing process effectively lowering the surface energy of the TPU, but maintaining the mechanical properties of the TPU such that it is able to perform its function as a streamer skin.

In embodiments of the present invention, an outer-tubing/outer layer/coating of a TPU containing a high concentration of a hydrophobic moiety is coupled with/extruded onto to the modified TPU tubing. In such embodiments, the streamer casing comprises a modified TPU bulk layer with a layer containing high concentrations of a hydrophobic moiety coupled thereto and the hydrophobic chemistries of the streamer casing and the anti-bio fouling coating prevent delamination, erosion of the anti-bio fouling coating.

In aspects of the present invention, the lowered surface energy of the modified TPU tubing prevents the poor adhesion and premature removal of the outer-skin from the modified tubing, both of which occur when the a hydrophobic outer-layer is applied to untreated TPU, which has a higher surface energy. This allows co-extrusion of a fluoro- or silicon elastomer, preferably TPU-based, over the modified streamer casing. This results in a mechanically sound streamer skin covered with a low surface energy, low Young's modulus material with good adhesion between the two layers. Furthermore, with the treated TPU, the outer-skin can be directly applied to the streamer without the need for a tie-coat making the manufacturing process easier and more cost efficient to perform.

Embodiments of the present invention, also provide a streamer skin that can be used to contain the acoustic equipment of a towed sonar line array and retain the mechanical and physical constraints linked with the streamer tubing inventory that is currently in operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure is described in conjunction with the appended figures:

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate a marine seismic survey using seismic streamers;

FIG. 2 is a cross section of a seismic streamer/cable with an anti-biofouling coating, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIGS. 3A-C illustrate incorporation of a hydrophobic moiety into a polymer for use in a seismic streamer/cable as described in FIG. 2.

In the appended figures, similar components and/or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label by a dash and a second label that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the first reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label.

DESCRIPTION

The ensuing description provides preferred exemplary embodiment(s) only, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention. Rather, the ensuing description of the preferred exemplary embodiment(s) will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention. It being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Specific details are given in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments maybe practiced without these specific details. For example, circuits may be shown in block diagrams in order not to obscure the embodiments in unnecessary detail. In other instances, well-known circuits, processes, algorithms, structures, and techniques may be shown without unnecessary detail in order to avoid obscuring the embodiments.

Also, it is noted that the embodiments may be described as a process which is depicted as a flowchart, a flow diagram, a data flow diagram, a structure diagram, or a block diagram. Although a flowchart may describe the operations as a sequential process, many of the operations can be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of the operations may be re-arranged. A process is terminated when its operations are completed, but could have additional steps not included in the figure. A process may correspond to a method, a function, a procedure, a subroutine, a subprogram, etc. When a process corresponds to a function, its termination corresponds to a return of the function to the calling function or the main function.

Moreover, as disclosed herein, the term “storage medium” may represent one or more devices for storing data, including read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic RAM, core memory, magnetic disk storage mediums, optical storage mediums, flash memory devices and/or other machine readable mediums for storing information. The term “computer-readable medium” includes, but is not limited to portable or fixed storage devices, optical storage devices, wireless channels and various other mediums capable of storing, containing or carrying instruction(s) and/or data.

Furthermore, embodiments may be implemented by hardware, software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description languages, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, firmware, middleware or microcode, the program code or code segments to perform the necessary tasks may be stored in a machine readable medium such as storage medium. A processor(s) may perform the necessary tasks. A code segment may represent a procedure, a function, a subprogram, a program, a routine, a subroutine, a module, a software package, a class, or any combination of instructions, data structures, or program statements. A code segment may be coupled to another code segment or a hardware circuit by passing and/or receiving information, data, arguments, parameters, or memory contents. Information, arguments, parameters, data, etc. may be passed, forwarded, or transmitted via any suitable means including memory sharing, message passing, token passing, network transmission, etc.

Embodiments of the present invention pertain to preventing the adhesion of marine organisms to the outer surfaces of seismic streamers. Embodiments of the present invention provide a streamer tubing material that is manufactured from a fluorinated or silicone-derivatised TPU. In some aspects, other compounds or derivatives thereof may be incorporated into the TPU to provide for lowering the surface energy of the TPU comprising the incorporated compounds and/or derivatives thereof. An anti-bio fouling layer—such as a paint, coating, outer-polymer layer—is then applied to the tubing material.

In embodiments of the present invention, a method is provided for, among other things, overcoming the disadvantages disclosed in the prior art. More precisely the invention is a streamer skin (or streamer tubing) that may effectively adhere to a coating of an anti-biofouling material. In aspects of the present invention, heteroatoms, such as fluorine and silicon, are incorporated within the seismic streamer tubing during the tubing manufacturing process effectively lowering the surface energy of the TPU but maintaining the mechanical properties of the TPU such that it is able to perform its function as a streamer skin.

This approach may facilitate the application of a hydrophobic elastomeric material over the streamer skin during the manufacturing process; where the hydrophobic elastomeric material comprises a higher concentration of hydrophobic moieties than the streamer skin. In some aspects, the hydrophobic elastomeric material is co-extruded with the streamer skin. In other aspects, the hydrophobic elastomeric material may be formed into a tube and the streamer, including streamer skin, may be disposed within the tube. In other aspects, the streamer skin and the outer layer of the hydrophobic elastomeric material may be co-extruded as a layered tube and the streamer core may be inserted into the tube. Co-extruding of the streamer skin and the hydrophobic elastomeric material in any of the foregoing processes provided that the streamer skin and the hydrophobic elastomeric material are thermally bonded together and the two layers are effectively blended together into a single casing that will not delaminate. It has been found that a hydrophobic, anti-biofouling polymer comprising high percentages of silicon, silicon derivatives, fluorine or fluorine derivatives may be effectively extruded over or co-extruded with a hydrophobic streamer casing.

In embodiments of the present invention, incorporation of fluorine or silicone into the TPU backbone occurs during the polyurethane synthesis reaction and yields a chemically modified TPU that can be used to produce streamer tubing/streamer skins with unaffected mechanical properties, but low surface energy. Applicants have found that even with the introduction of the silicon, fluorine and/or derivatives thereof into the TPU, it is possible to produce a TPU that is abrasion resistant, has a stiffness that is applicable to transmission of seismic signals, can be extruded as a tube to contain the seismic sensors and/or the like.

In embodiments of the present invention, the modification of the base TPU provides for the co-extrusion of a hydrophobic layer with the base TPU, where the coextruded hydrophobic layer is strongly bound to the modified TPU. In aspects of the present invention, the hydrophobic layer comprises a TPU containing a high concentration of one or more hydrophobic moieties, such as silicon, fluorine and/or derivatives thereof. The strong bonding prevents the hydrophobic layer becoming easily unattached from the streamer surface and the coating delaminating from the streamer surface. Thus, the streamer exhibits better and more sustained anti-fouling properties. In fact, the improvement may be markedly improved, since effects such as delamination leave uneven surfaces on the streamer skin, which, as described above, may serve to encourage marine fouling.

FIG. 2 is a cross section of a streamer cable 10 with an anti-biofouling coating, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. Streamer cable 10 includes a central core 12 having transmission bundle 14 surrounded by a strength member 16. Central core 12 is typically pre-fabricated before adding sensors and/or sensor electronics. Local wiring 18, which is used to connect the sensor and sensor electronics, is also disposed in streamer cable 10 inside of a filler 20 and a skin 22. The filler 20 may comprise a liquid, such as kerosene, or a gel, such as a kerosene gel.

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure the skin 22 comprises a hydrophobic material. An anti-bio fouling layer 24 is disposed over the skin 22. The anti-biofouling layer 24 may comprise a coating, a paint or a layer of a polymer. In embodiments of the present disclosure, the anti-bio fouling layer 24 is hydrophobic

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the skin 22 has hydrophobic properties. In some aspects, the hydrophobic properties may be provided by incorporating fluorine and/or silicon moieties or derivatives thereof into a polymer forming the skin 22. In other aspects, the polymer forming the skin 22 may be selected to be hydrophobic in nature. The hydrophobic properties of the anti-bio fouling layer 24 may be provided by incorporating fluorine and/or silicon moieties and/or derivatives thereof into the polymer forming the anti-biofouling layer 24. For example, the skin 22 and/or the anti-biofouling layer 24 may comprise TPU with fluorine and/or silicon moieties and/or derivatives thereof attached to the backbone of the TPU structure. In some aspects the anti-biofouling layer 24 may comprise silicon, polydimethylsiloxane (“PDMS”) and/or the like.

Hydrophobic moieties, such as fluorine, fluourine derivatives, silicon, silicon derivatives, PDMS and/or the like have been found to have anti-bioufouling properties. However, Applicants have found that hydrophobicity is not the only factor in reducing biofouling, especially with respect to fouling by arthropods, such as barnacles or the like. Applicants have found that the elasticity/elastic modulus of the hydrophobic material is also a factor and softer, springier elastic materials may be better at preventing fouling by arthropods or the like. In embodiments of the present invention, the anti-biofouling layer 24 may comprise an elastic material, such as PDMS or the like. In such embodiments, the skin 22 may provide the strength of the streamer cable 10 to provide desirable streamer properties where the anti-biofouling layer 24 is elastic, compliant and/or not durable by itself.

The streamer cable 10 may be manufactured by extruding the anti-biofouling layer 24 over the skin 22, applying a coating of the anti-biofouling layer 24 to the skin 22 or painting the anti-biofouling layer 24 onto the skin 22. In some aspects, portions of the anti-biofouling layer 24 may be thermally welded to the skin 22, such as by thermal welding, to provide for integration of the anti-biofouling layer 24 and the skin 22.

It has been found that in use the streamer cable 10, where the skin 22 and the anti-biofouling layer 24 are both hydrophobic, retains its anti-fouling properties. By contrast, where an antifouling coating is extruded onto or thermally bound to the skin 22 where the skin 22 and/or the anti-bio fouling layer 24 is/are hydrophilic, the anti-bio fouling layer 24 begins to delaminate from the skin 22 after one or more uses in a seismic survey.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide a streamer that comprises the anti-bio fouling layer 24 and/or the skin 22 comprise a fluorinated or silicone-derivatised TPU. In some aspects, other compounds or derivatives thereof may be incorporated into the TPU to provide for providing hydrophobicity (lowering the surface energy) of the TPU comprising the incorporated compounds and/or derivatives thereof.

In embodiments of the present invention, incorporation of fluorine or silicone into the TPU backbone occurs during the polyurethane synthesis reaction and yields a chemically modified TPU that can be used to produce the skin 22 and/or the anti-bio fouling layer 24 with unaffected mechanical properties, but low surface energy. Applicants have found that even with the introduction of the silicon, fluorine and/or derivatives thereof into the TPU, it is possible to produce a TPU that: is abrasion resistant, is rigid/semi-rigid, has a stiffness that is applicable to transmission of seismic signals, can be extruded, is transparent and/or the like. Use of hydrophobic materials for the skin 22 and the anti-biofouling layer 24 prevents effects such as flaking or delamination of portions of the anti-bio fouling layer 24, which may leave uneven surfaces on the skin 22 and which, contrary to the purpose of the paint/coating, may serve to encourage marine fouling.

FIGS. 3A-C illustrate incorporation of a hydrophobic moiety into a polymer for use in a seismic streamer cable as described in FIG. 2, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In FIGS. 3A-C, a method of fluorine incorporation into a thermoplastic polyurethane block co-polymer is illustrated. In other embodiments, a silicon moiety or derivative thereof may be incorporated in the same manner as a fluorine moiety or derivative thereof.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3A-C, substitution of a typical chain extender (non-fluorinated) shown in FIG. 3A for a fluorinated chain extender shown in FIG. 3( b), yields a TPU material that can be extruded to produce a seismic streamer section, shown in FIG. 3C. The method disperses fluorine both through the bulk matrix of the streamer section and at the surface of the section. The modified (hydrophobic) surface imparts low surface energy properties to the seismic streamer making it suitable for the application of other hydrophobic materials, such as anti-fouling paints, coatings, laminates, tubing sections and/or the like.

In embodiments of the present invention, a seismic streamer skin is manufactured from melt-processable thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) block co-polymer that can be extruded to form a self-supporting flexible tube. Thermoplastic polyurethanes are a versatile group of multi-phase segmented polymers that have excellent mechanical and elastic properties, good hardness and high abrasion and chemical resistance. Generally, polyurethane block co-polymers are comprised of a low glass transition or low melting ‘soft’ segment and a rigid ‘hard segment’, which often has a glassy T_(g) or crystalline melting point well above room temperature.

Thermoplastic polyurethanes used in seismic streamers are relatively hydrophilic materials, which is demonstrated by the fact that these materials have an air-water contact angle (θ) less than 90°. The contact angle of a surface (as determined using water and/or methylene iodide) can be used to derive the surface energy of the material using a suitable protocol, such as the Owens-Wendt geometric mean method, which gives a good idea of the tendency of the surface to bio-foul.

Applicants have found that a high surface energy is one of the main contributing factors to the propensity of streamer surfaces to be fouled by marine organisms. The type of fouling observed depends on the area of the world and the temporal climate, but fouling can vary from algal colonisation to barnacle infestation or combinations thereof. Use of coatings and paints has been demonstrated to be very effective against these types of infestation, particularly against barnacle colonization, which is by far the most prevalent form of fouling for seismic streamers. By reducing the surface energy of the polyurethane streamer skin, embodiments of the present invention provide for applying anti-fouling coatings with good adherence properties. In some embodiments, the surface energy of the polyurethane streamer skin is reduced from the current value (around 43 mN/m) to between 15 to 30 mN/m. These lowered surface energy values are compatible with the application of paints and coatings that are configured to prevent bio-fouling, i.e., paints and coatings that may contain fluoride, silicon, derivatives thereof and/or the like.

By contrast to the fabrication methods of the present invention, in which fluorine and/or silicone are incorporated into the thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) backbone during the polyurethane synthesis reaction, modification of the streamer surface post-fabrication is time-consuming and inefficient. Applying coatings to regular streamers, comprising TPU without surface energy modifying elements, usually require several applications (or ‘coats’) by brush, spray or via a dip-coating procedure and often require a ‘tie-coat’ (or intermediate coat) to be applied between the streamer surface and the outer coating layer to aid adhesion. Such processes when applied to sections of streamers that are 10s of feet/meters long, is time consuming and expensive. Moreover, the resulting coating layers on regular TPU streamer skins have a tendency to delaminate and ‘peel off’ the streamer as the wettability/surface energy of the substrate and coating materials materials are mis-matched.

In embodiments of the present invention, the integration of surface energy modifying materials into the chemistry of the streamer during the production process allow for better more efficient post-fabrication coating. Moreover, the properties of the coated streamer skins in accordance with embodiments of the present invention are much improved compared to the coating of regular streamer skins with top layers.

In embodiments of the present invention, it should be recognized that the modifying the of the streamer skin by addition of silicon and/or fluoride or derivatives of these chemicals will itself impart some anti-fouling properties to the skin. However, in embodiments of the present invention, the mechanical properties, such as the Young's modulus of the streamer skin, the opacity of the streamer skin etc. is retained by adding only limited amounts of the silicon/fluoride or derivatives thereof. In embodiments of the present invention, these limited amounts may maintain the desired mechanical properties of the streamer skin, but as a result produce a surface energy that is not be as low as may be achieved using paints or coatings containing high levels of silicon or fluor-based polymers. In embodiments of the present invention, the modified, low surface energy TPU is in effect tuned to be readily amenable to/configured with a low surface energy for being coated with the high-concentrate materials. As such, embodiments of the present invention, provide streamer skins with good mechanical properties that can be effectively coated with paints and/or coatings containing high concentration of surface-energy lowering polymers.

Incorporation of silicon or fluorine into the TPU lowers the surface energy of the streamer by altering the wettability of the material. In certain aspects, two approaches may be used to provide for integration of silicon or fluorine can into the streamer skin. Firstly, the modifying agent of choice may be dispersed into the molten TPU during the melt-processing/extrusion process. Generally, in streamer fabrication, TPU is melted and then extruded onto the streamer. In a dispersion method, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, granules of the modifier, i.e., fluoroflake (a commercially available fluoro-carbon) can be added to the TPU batch mix to generate a ‘physical blend’ such that it is incorporated into the final material. The fluoro-carbon and the TPU interactions are purely physical as there are no covalent bonds formed between the two species during this process

Alternatively, the use of hydrophobic chain extenders or polyols can be reacted with a prepolymer to produce a ‘hydrophobically-modified’ thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). The hydrophobic chain extenders or polyols comprising fluorine or silicone derivatives. In embodiments of the present invention using hydrophobically-modified′ thermoplastic polyurethane, the hydrophobic moieties are chemically reacted into the hard segments of the polyurethane backbone. In alternative embodiments, a portion of the original polyol may be substituted for a hydrophobically-modified variant to generate a hydrophobically modified ‘prepolymer’. The prepolymer is then subsequently reacted with a normal chain extender rather than a hydrophobically derivatised version.

In each case, a thermoplastic polyurethane block co-polymer is yielded from the process, which thermoplastic polyurethane block co-polymer exhibits a two-phase microstructure. As a result of the mixing/processes, fluorine (using materials such as Fluoro-link) or silicone (Silmer-OH amongst others) is dispersed homogenously throughout the TPU, being localised predominantly in the hard, rigid segments (via the hydrophobically derivatised chain extender route) (glassy or semicrystalline domains) or in the polyol, amorphous segments if using the derivatised polyol route.

In order to investigate these two types of modified polyurethane, test materials were produced using both procedures. TPU plaques incorporating fluoroflake (termed the ‘additive’ protocol) at various levels (0.1 to 2%) were compared to those produced using fluoro-link (termed the ‘chemically modified’ protocol) as a chain extender (0.1 to 3%). Both of these materials were compared against non-modified TPU control materials.

The contact angles of the three test plaques (Fluoroflake, Fluorolink) were measured and the surface energy calculated utilizing the following equation:

(1+cos(θ))γ_(LV)=2√(γ_(S) ^(D)γ_(L) ^(D))+2√(γ_(S) ^(P)γ_(L) ^(P))

-   -   (water: γ_(LV)=72.80; γ_(L) ^(D)=21.80; γ_(L) ^(P)=51.00;         methylene iodide: γ_(LV)=50.80; γ_(L) ^(D)=50.80; γ_(L) ^(P)=0)         The surface energy of all the new materials was found to be in a         desired target range, between 15 to 30 mN/m, compared to the         control, which was outside this value (35 mN/m).

Scanning electron microscope (“SEM”) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (“EDX”) of the TPU with fluoroflake dispersed within the material proved experimentally revealing. The analysis of the produced material showed that the surface of the material was quite different texturally relative to the bulk of the material. Applicants have found that this can be explained by the fact that the bulk material contains no fluorine and the surface has a relatively large fluorine content (5%). This analysis indicates that the fluorine has localised exclusively at the surface, minimizing contact with the TPU. Effectively, the hydrophilic nature of the bulk and the hydrophobicity of the additive has produced a material where the two constituents separate from one another. This conclusion was reinforced by review of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (“XPS”) data.

From this review, it was found that a few microns into the sample the amount of fluorine diminishes such that the bulk material, away from the surface, resembles standard TPU. In embodiments of the present invention, where it is desirable to have properties of the standard TPU streamer skin but to have a low surface energy outer surface to which paints or coatings with high concentrates of silicon, fluorine or derivatives can be painted/attached, the additive protocol is suitable to produce streamers that are subsequently coated or painted by anti-fouling materials. A problem with the additive protocol is the control of the process. Preparation of self-supporting tubes for marine seismic streamer assembly is very different to that of producing molded plaques. However, it was found, that is some embodiments of the present invention, it is feasible to fabricate marine seismic streamers incorporating a dispersed additive. In embodiments of the present invention, cooling approaches other then spraying the TPU tube with water is used for the additive TPU to prevent reducing presence of the hydrophobic additives at the surface of the modified TPU.

Applicants have found comparison of the additive protocol, fluoroflake added to the TPU, with the chemically modified TPU, TPU with chemically integrated fluorolink, to be quite revealing. In the chemically modified TPU, the XPS and EDX data indicated that the fluorine was distributed throughout the whole sample. In fact, surprisingly there was more fluorine in the bulk of the material than on the surface. In embodiments of the present invention, this increased concentration of the additive in the bulk material is advantageous as means the streamer skim will develop a lower surface energy as it wears during use. This increase in concentration, in an embodiment of the present invention, counter-acts the increased roughness of the streamer surface that develops during use, which is also a contributing factor to fouling

The silicon derived materials followed the same pattern as those observed for the fluorinated samples, i.e. the use of silylated chain extenders gives a more uniform distribution of the silicon relative to dispersing a silylated material in the polymer melt. In embodiments of the present invention, streamers made using fluoro- and silyl-chain extenders have properties very close to that of the experimental plaques. Applicants have observed that in streamers comprising TPU chemically modified with silicon and/or fluorine, the hetero-atoms are distributed throughout the streamer skin with slightly less at the surface compared to the bulk of the streamer skin. In embodiments of the present invention, the mechanical properties of the modified materials are similar to those of the non-modified streamers such that the modified skins have the properties required/desired for use in marine seismic streamers.

There are two different sets of mechanical properties important for a material used as a seismic streamer skin; the properties relating to signal transfer (transmission of seismic signals through the streamer skin) and the properties relating to the mechanical robustness of the streamer skin. Both the hardness and the stiffness of the TPU affects the signal transfer of the skins. The Shore A hardness of the modified materials is 93±7 (ASTM D2240), while the apparent modulus (found from the transitional nominal stress and strain) is in the range of 30-70 MPa (ISO 527-2).

As the streamer skin must be able to take a certain amount of abuse/wear during operational procedures, mechanical properties of the streamer skin, such as abrasion, tear and puncture resistance are important. In embodiments of the present invention, puncture impact behavior of the modified skins show a peak force higher than 2500 N and a total energy of at least 50 J (ISO 6603-2), while the tear resistance for the modified skins is higher than 80 N/mm (ASTM D624). In addition, the modified skins (both silicone and fluorine modified) in accordance with aspects of the present invention show around a 50% increase in abrasion resistance (ASTM D638-08) compared to regular TPU skins. Also, in embodiments of the present invention, the maximum tensile stress and the maximum elongation at break are improved in the modified skins compared to regular TPU skins, with up to a 20% increase in both properties (ISO 527-2).

In addition to the standardized tests, a custom made durability test was performed where a 100 meter section of streamer skin is reeled around two metal drums with an outside diameter (“OD”) of 1.4 meters, at 25 kN tension for 100 cycles at −15° C. and 100 cycles at 30° C. In this test, the surface of the modified streamer skins, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, showed minimum signs of wear after the test.

In embodiments of the present invention, no tie coat was required as the surface energy of the modified TPU was of a level of 15 to 30 mN/m, such that the coatings and paints adhere directly to the modified TPU. In embodiments of the present invention, anti-fouling coatings are more effectively applied to a streamer skin because the skin comprises a modified TPU, where the surface energy of the streamer skin has been reduced to decrease the mismatch with the coating and the streamer skin's bulk material. Embodiments of the present invention, provide streamers skins having a surface comprising high concentrations of silicon and/or fluorine or derivates thereof, where the high concentration surfaces have a low surface energy for repelling/preventing/reducing attachment of marine organisms and providing effective coupling of the paint/coating to the streamer skin.

In embodiments of the present invention, anti-fouling coatings or paints are more effectively applied to a streamer skin because the skin comprises a modified TPU, where the surface energy of the streamer skin has been reduced to decrease the mis-match with the coatings and paints. Embodiments of the present invention, provide streamers skins having a surface comprising high concentrations of silicon and/or fluorine or derivates thereof, where the high concentration surfaces have a low surface energy for repelling/preventing/reducing attachment of marine organisms and providing effective coupling of the paint/coating to the streamer skin.

In some embodiments of the present invention, paints or coatings comprising silicon moieties, fluorine moieties and/or derivatives thereof are painted onto the outer-surface of the modified TPU streamer skin. In some aspects, the streamer is skinned with the modified TPU, such as by extruding the modified TPU casing around the streamer body, and the paints or coatings are then applied to the streamer. In some aspects the paint/coating may be applied by dipping the streamer in the paint/coating, spraying the paint/coating onto the streamer and/or the like. In some aspects, the paints may be configured to have a color that may be used for visual inspection purposes and/or to make the streamer unattractive to marine organisms.

In some embodiments, the hydrophobic elastomeric material applied to the streamer skin may comprise a polymer or the like comprising silicon moieties, fluorine moieties and/or derivatives thereof. In such embodiments, the modified TPU and the hydrophobic elastomeric material may have similar surface hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties providing for effective bonding between the hydrophobic elastomeric material layer and the modified TPU streamer skin. In aspects of the present invention, the hydrophobic elastomeric material may have a higher concentration of silicon moieties, fluorine moieties and/or derivatives thereof than exists in the modified TPU. However, Applicants have found that even with far greater concentrations in the hydrophobic elastomeric material, the bonding between the hydrophobic elastomeric material layer and the modified TPU of the streamer skin is still much better than between the hydrophobic elastomeric material layer and unmodified TPU. Moreover, in aspects of the present invention, the modified TPU that exists below the hydrophobic elastomeric material layer may itself serve to prevent bio fouling when the paint/coating flakes or delaminates.

In embodiments of the present invention, fluorinated polymers are used in the hydrophobic elastomeric material layer to provide an even lower surface energy than silicones. The low surface energy of fluoropolymers is derived from the low bond polarization of the C—F bond and fluorinated acrylic co-polymers and, in some embodiments, have been found to provide for effective fouling resistant layers.

Embodiments of the present invention provide for a seismic streamer skin that is manufactured from melt-processable thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) block co-polymer that can be extruded to form a self-supporting flexible tube with a co-extruded outer layer comprising hydrophobic elastomeric material suitable for preventing fouling by marine organisms. Applicants have found that as well as low surface energy, flexibility of the hydrophobic elastomeric material layer, i.e., a springiness of the hydrophobic elastomeric material layer, is also a factor in preventing bio fouling. In aspects of the present invention, compositions of hydrophobic elastomeric material are selected that are flexible in structure and not as rigid as conventional streamer skins.

Application of silicon and fluorine-elastomers to TPU is difficult and the durability of these systems is low. Co-extrusion of a fluoro- or silicon-elastomer, preferably TPU based, over the already modified TPU skin will give a mechanically robust system with good foul-release properties. The thin outer-coating should have a Young's modulus ideally between 0.5 and 7.5 MPa in order to have the optimum foul release properties.

It is therefore clear that anti-fouling coatings will be more effective when applied to modified TPU, where the surface energy of the systems has been reduced to decrease the mismatch with the outer-coating. Among other things, this matching of the surface energy of the streamer skin to the anti-biofouling layer to be applied to the skin, advantageously provides for direct application of the anti-bio fouling layer onto the streamer skin without the need for pre-treating the outer-surface of the streamer skin. This provides for more efficient and more effective streamer manufacturing; where pretreatment of the streamer skin surface may be costly, complicate steamer production and/or produce a streamer where the outer lay may delamination from the streamer skin. In aspects of the present invention, the anti-biofouling layer may be extruded onto the streamer skin. Co-extruded with the streamer skin onto the streamer and/or the anti-biofouling layer may be extruded into a tube and the streamer, including the streamer skin, may be inserted into the tube of the anti-bio fouling layer.

The use of hydrophobic chain extenders in polyurethane can be limited with regard to the amount of modification that can be achieved whilst maintaining a mechanically sound system. To enhance the amount of hydrophobicity on the surface of the streamer we are able to manufacture the streamer from our modified TPU and co-extrude an outer-layer composed of a low molecular weight TPU system with high hetero-atom content.

There are many patent regarding co-extrusion, particularly co-extruding materials that are chemically incompatible. These final materials always end up with a weak boundary layer due to the incompatibility of the two polymers used. We have modified the base material to maintain the desired properties (for seismic streamers) but reduced the surface energy making co-extrusion not only facile but, by reducing the incompatibilities within the chemistry, we have increased the durability of the boundary layer. The outer layer acts purely for foul-release as the inner part of the streamer provides all the mechanical and physical properties required for streamer skins.

In embodiments of the present invention, the hydrophobic outer layer is more effectively applied to a streamer skin because the skin comprises a modified TPU, where the surface energy of the streamer skin has been reduced to decrease the mismatch with the properties of the outer-layer. Embodiments of the present invention provide streamers skins having a surface comprising high concentrations of silicon and/or fluorine or derivates thereof, where the high concentration surfaces have a low surface energy for repelling/preventing/reducing attachment of marine organisms and providing effective coupling of the paint/coating to the streamer skin.

In some embodiments, the hydrophobic outer-layer may comprise a polymer or the like comprising silicon moieties, fluorine moieties and/or derivatives thereof. In such embodiments, the modified TPU and the outer-layer may have similar surface hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties providing for effective bonding between the outer-layer and the modified TPU streamer skin during a co-extrusion process. In aspects of the present invention, the outer-layer may have a higher concentration of silicon moieties, fluorine moieties and/or derivatives thereof than exists in the modified TPU. However, Applicants have found that even with far greater concentrations in the outer-layer, the bonding between the outer-layer and the modified TPU is still much better than between a hydrophobic elastomeric material outer-layer and unmodified TPU.

In aspects of the present invention, liquids other than water may be used to cool the co-extruded streamer casing in order to prevent migration of the hydrophobic compounds in the outer-layer away from the outer-surface of the streamer casing. In other embodiments, after co-extrusion of the streamer skin and the outer-layer of the hydrophobic elastomeric material, a portion of the outer-surface of the outer-layer may be skimmed off to provide for an outer-surface containing at least a representative concentration of the hydrophobic compounds disposed in the outer-layer.

In one aspect of the present invention, it has been found that complex outer-layers can be applied to the hydrophobic/low surface energy streamer skin. For example, an anti-bio fouling layer comprising both hydrophobic and hydrophilic materials may be applied to the streamer skin. It has been found that some marine organisms, such as barnacles or the like, do not like contacting materials having regions with hydrophilic properties and regions with hydrophobic properties. In some aspects, the outer layer may comprise a shark skin type structure where the surface of the outer-layer includes regions (islands) with hydrophilic properties and regions with hydrophobic properties. In some aspects, where the bulk material is hydrophobic in nature the surface may comprise islands of hydrophilic material surrounded by a sea of the bulk material. It is found that the materials with the same hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties congregate/clump/integrate together helping form a surface on the outer-layer with regions that are hydrophobic and regions that are hydrophilic.

While the principles of the disclosure have been described above in connection with specific apparatuses and methods, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as limitation on the scope of the invention. 

1. An anti-biofouling seismic streamer, comprising: a streamer body; a streamer skin disposed over the streamer body and comprising a tube of a polymer system comprising a hydrophobically-modified base polymer, wherein the hydrophobically-modified base polymer comprises either: (a) a base polymer having a backbone and a hydrophobically derivatized chain extender coupled to said backbone of said base polymer; or (b) a base polymer having a hydrophobic additive thermally mixed therewith; and a hydrophobic outer-layer disposed over an outer-surface of the streamer skin.
 2. The anti-biofouling seismic streamer of claim 1, wherein the hydrophobically derivatized chain extender comprises a hydrophobic moiety.
 3. The anti-biofouling seismic streamer of claim 2, wherein the hydrophobic moiety comprises at least one of a fluorine derivative, a silicon derivative and a polyethylene glycol derivative.
 4. The anti-biofouling seismic streamer of claim 1, wherein the base polymer comprises one of polyurethane, thermoplastic polyurethane, urethane, polyvinylchloride and polyethylene.
 5. The anti-biofouling seismic streamer of claim 1, wherein the polymer system comprises an (AB)_(n) type block copolymer, and wherein the (AB)_(n) type block copolymer comprises a soft polyol segment and a hard segment comprising the hydrophobically-modified base polymer.
 6. The anti-biofouling seismic streamer of claim 5, wherein the (AB)_(n) type block copolymer has a two-phase microstructure.
 7. The anti-biofouling seismic streamer of claim 5, wherein the soft polyol segment comprises a dihydroxy terminated long chain macroglycol.
 8. The anti-biofouling seismic streamer of claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic additive comprises a hydrophobic moiety.
 9. The anti-biofouling seismic streamer of claim 8, wherein the hydrophobic moiety comprises at least one of a fluorine derivative, a silicon derivative and a polyethylene glycol derivative.
 11. The anti-biofouling seismic streamer of claim 1, wherein the streamer skin and/or the hydrophobic outer-layer further comprises a biocide.
 12. The anti-biofouling seismic streamer of claim 1, further comprising a hydrophobic polymer filler.
 13. The anti-biofouling seismic streamer of claim 12, wherein the hydrophobic polymer filler comprises at least one of polytetrafluoroethylene, polydimethylsiloxane and polyethylene, polyisobutylene and polystyrene.
 14. The anti-biofouling seismic streamer of claim 1, wherein the hydrophobically-modified base polymer is produced by reacting a pre-polymer with the hydrophobically derivatized chain extender.
 15. The anti-biofouling seismic streamer of claim 14, wherein: the pre-polymer comprises one of polyurethane, thermoplastic polyurethane, urethane, polyvinylchloride and polyethylene.
 16. The anti-biofouling seismic streamer of claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic outer-layer comprises a high concentration of fluorine, silicon and/or derivatives thereof.
 17. The anti-biofouling seismic streamer of claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic outer-layer comprises one of an anti-biofouling paint, an anti-biofouling coating and an anti-biofouling polymer layer.
 18. A method of fabricating the anti-biofouling seismic streamer according to claim 1, comprising: co-extruding the streamer skin and the hydrophobic outer-layer onto the streamer body.
 19. A method of fabricating the anti-biofouling seismic streamer according to claim 1, comprising: extruding the streamer skin onto the streamer body; and extruding the hydrophobic outer-layer onto the streamer skin.
 20. The method of claim 19, where in the streamer skin and the hydrophobic coating are co-extruded.
 21. A method of fabricating the anti-biofouling seismic streamer according to claim 1, comprising: co-extruding the streamer skin and the hydrophobic outer-layer as a tube; and inserting the streamer body into the tube.
 22. A method of fabricating the anti-biofouling seismic streamer according to claim 1, comprising:
 23. At least one of painting the hydrophobic outer-layer onto the streamer skin and coating the hydrophobic outer-layer on the streamer skin. 